As the hands of time continue to march forward, we find ourselves now approaching the 70th anniversary of the epic events of WW II. While the participants of those desperate times steadily dwindle, efforts to honor and acknowledge their sacrifices and service are being held around the country at appropriate venues. To commemorate America’s first aerial strike against Japan to avenge the Pearl Harbor attack organizers at the National Museum of the U. S. Air Force hosted the 70th reunion for the surviving Doolittle Raiders during the week of April 16.

With co-hosting by the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders Association, the flying event was highlighted by the presence of 20 B-25s gathered from around the country through the extraordinary efforts of warbird owner/operator Larry Kelley. Kelley, who also arranged a similar event two years ago, worked through multiple barriers and limited sponsorships and successfully brought the warbirds in to stage at Grimes Field in Urbana, Ohio. Arrivals began on Sunday the 15th although weather delayed arrivals from both east and west directions. Field activities at Grimes were ably managed by Ron Kaplan and a superb ground and marshaling cadre. Flying activities began pre-dawn on Tuesday morning when flight crews prepped their aircraft for a trail formation takeoff, including a carrier-type launch recreation from Grimes Field. After a sunrise arrival at Old Wright Field, the assembled Mitchell bombers and crews were opened to the general public.

Surviving raiders Dick Cole (#1), Tom Griffin (#9), Ed Saylor (#15) and Dave Thatcher (#7) were escorted out to the B-25s late on Tuesday to meet the crews and public. The highlight of the flying program was a mass flyover of all 20 aircraft on Wednesday as part of a remembrance service at the Raiders Monument located in the Museum’s Memorial Park. Other press, crew and public events were held after the flyover in what will probably be the last large public outing for the five surviving Doolittle Raiders. —Stan Piet

3 Comments

The current generation(s) of folks, especially todays young cannot begin to understand what the countless numbers of men and women in uniform did/are doing during WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan for our country. The blame lies mostly in the way we educate our kids both at home and in the school system. FREEDOM ISN’T FREE. Unless we (parents and education) change our liberal mindsets, we may be going down a pathway that one day we as a nation will regret and all of those sacrifices will have been in vain. What a legacy to leave.

Hey ALL,
I really appreciate what these great men did to protect my freedom!! They went WAY beyond what they were called for and accomplished what they said couldn’t be done.I’m a fellow vet and I know the sacrifice that they had make to get the job DONE!! Thank you for ALL you did to allow me to grow up in a FREE country!!
TTYL,
Bruce